Jury Selected In Hulk Hogan's $100M Invasion Of Privacy Lawsuit And Sex Tape Trial

A jury was selected Friday in Hulk Hogan’s $100-million invasion of privacy lawsuit brought against news website Gawker over their publishing a sex tape made in 2006.

Opening statements are set to begin Monday. The six-member jury will determine if Gawker violated Hogan’s right to privacy in 2012 when it published the video of the former professional wrestler having sex with his best friend’s ex-wife.

Hogan’s attorneys say the one minute and 40 seconds of salacious excerpts from the 30-minute videotape garnered 7 million views.

Gawker says the publication was a legitimate scoop because Hogan had talked openly about his sex life before, in forums such as Howard Stern’s radio show.

According to Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, the video was made without his knowledge.

The clip shows the 62-year-old having sex with the wife of his former best friend, Tampa DJ Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, and making racist remarks.

Shortly after the contents of the tape became public, Hogan admitted that the tape was real and said his words were “offensive” and “unacceptable.”

On Friday, shortly after jurors were dismissed and told to return Monday for the trial, attorneys announced an unexpected twist in the case, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Clem, who formally changed his name to Bubba the Love Sponge, announced he was refusing to testify.

Attorneys for Gawker called the decision “troubling” and suggested Clem may have lied during his deposition, the newspaper reported.

The company’s legal team considered his testimony a vital part of their case. They claim Clem has repeatedly changed his story about the making of the sex tape, and whether Bollea knew he was on camera.

“It appears Mr. Clem may have perjured himself,” Gawker attorney Michael Berry told the paper.

Things you say to yourself when you're with your sidechick at the telly ……..

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